[jonix]

Got an interesting problem and perhaps it's just me being really daft. Before I put the head back on this X 14XE I set piston 1 to TDC. Now I come to check the crank sprocket timing mark with the mark on the belt backplate and I find that the sprocket is advanced by about 45 degrees. Perhaps someone could point out what I've done wrong?

 

[Ghost_Walker]

yeah your crank sproket is buggered as the bonding bedtween the rubber and the steel is failing and it's moving round on it

 

[jonix]

No, I'm not talking about the pulley, I'm talking about the metal sprocket with the cast timing mark.

 

[Ghost_Walker]

can ihave a pic of the offending article as i'm not too familier with the small block engines

 

[jonix]

I'll see what I can do.

 

[graham16v]

Thats a weird one m8! lol

 

[Jamie_F]

has the woodruff key sheared??

 

[Ghost_Walker]

cheers but if it's the main pulley that carries the drive belts for the alt and PAS the same as the big blocks it sounds fooked. it's keyed to the timing sproket, so evn if you managed to put it on wrong it would be 90 deg out not 45 if it has 4 holes to bolt on with

TBH i made my own timing marks as the kent cam don't match up to any of the factory marks and having the head skimmed threw it out a bit more too

 

[jonix]

It's the timing belt sprocket, not the pulley Pic just coming.

 

[jonix]

Well it's possible I didn't set piston 1 to TDC properly.

 

[Ghost_Walker]

might be the woodruff key has popped out the back. they are a right bugger to get right. take it off to make sure then try again and reset TDC

 

[Dave Hay]

just sounds like timings a mile out!

id line both up on there own. put belt on and tighten it. turn crank round twice and then both marks on top and bottom pulley should match up perfectly.

if not timings way out again.

also make sure both pulleys are spinning and the belts not slipping......

 

[jonix]

Worked out the problem. I suspect when I put the sparkplug in, the compression forced the piston down. Set the timing mark to line up and the piston was at TDC at that point.

For posterity's sake, here's a pic of what I was on about:

 

[Ghost_Walker]

ah right that might do it. at least double check by hand before you soin it up on the starter

 

[jonix]

Too right, I will! Don't want to be back to square one with bent valves again

 

[ChrisB]

Superglue/threadlock the bottom pulley bolt. They have a knack of undoing themselves on small blocks.

 

[Dave Hay]

why did you put spark plugs back in as you set timing? (sounds like you lined up timing, put plugs in then tightened belt?? before noticing it was out?)

ive never bothered to take the plugs out on belts ive done. not worth the hastle imo!

 

[jonix]

No, I wasn't anywhere near that. I am putting the engine back together. I put the sparkplugs in to stop muck getting in the cylinders. I was just about to refit the cams so I thought I'd check the position of piston no. 1. I got confused when I found that the timing mark and TDC appeared to be out of alignment.

 

[graham16v]

Dont forget to check the clearence between the valves and pistons!

When i measured the head there was loads of metal left but just to make sure!

 

[jonix]

What's the best way to do that?